Daily Republican., 1887-04-26
LIFE IN VIRGINIA.

/ Wcuulng.
my prettiest of cousins has been
married, which accounts for my being
here, and do believe that every dar-
key in the place knew that Miss
Main was to be married, and wanted
in some way, If only by stare OF ap-
IprObatiOn, TO assist at the wedding.
All affairs of any importance in a
family mean much to them. 1t touches
their hearts that their young lady is
the feature of such pretty ceremony.
And not blessed darkey but did not
thank Heaven for having been born to
see the day.
"The wedding was lovely-the
bridesmaids, or, as the old-fashioned
Repression here is, the 6nes who wait
on her, did charmingly, and l must
tell you about it. The church, built
by an architect who had no knowl-
ledge of latter-day wedding process
sions. had no centre aisle; but this was
no difficulty to Virginia girl fertile
| in resources.
First of all, up came the ushers.
two by two from each side; they met
in front of the altar and crossed over;
then pair of maids in pink and blue
came up the right aisle and crossed
lover to the left side; then two of the
Igroomsmen just behind them, forming
an effective background, and giving a
real Southern air Of protection. This
way OF coming first from one side and
then another was continued until all
were in their places, and then came
the bride on her fathers arm, a verita-
bic vision OF loneliness in white satin
and the becoming tulle veil. Tender
hands had arranged the veil, loving
hearts were beating with emotion all
about her, and the happy man did
look happy, and said the Il will with
an emphasis worth recording. A girl
near me said that the constant effort
to look first on one side and then on
the other, to see the procession of rose
bud girls, was rapidly making her
cross eyed.
"Aiter the service, back to the house
we went, and then there was supper
no miserable rich supper from q
caterer, but turkeys, brown and tender,
hams pink and really sugar cured,
salads dressed with receipts that had
been treasured for years, and oysters
not only as the Lord ordained they
should be, but in every way that the
Ingenuity of the darkey cook could ar
range them. A Virginia supper is
well worth eating.
AFTER everybody had gone. some
lot the bridesmaids and my handsome
cousin (how nice 1t is that courtship in
Virginia permits one being kissed )de.
termined TO have dance and then
well, i should have liked some New
York men to see a typical Southern
girl, like one who was there, dance,
This one is dark and small, but supple
and light. Piquancy is about her like
the air she breathes-a part of her
being. She can dance jig or break
down without missing step or stop.
|ping to take breath. She can waltz
like an angel, and give some excite
ment even to a quadrille. And yet
mademoiselle can keep house, make
her own gowns (and they are pretty
ones. too, and Is always ready to help
when anything is going on.
"She is always ready to coquet-
that 10 part of her heritage; and while
her coquetry may not be as well de-
tined as that of the New York girl, 1t
is more effective, more charming, and
certainly more innocent. In this age,
when digestions replace hearts, the
Southern girl has decided belief in
love and though Jack doubts 1t, l
maintain that absolute love marriages
do take place here With marriages
the gayety ends until there are daugh-
tiers to bring out, and as my typical
girl said when some one told her she
would be the next bride, Indeed, I'm
not done having my good time.' That
is the way, Dorothy; and, indeed, as
Tar as homes are concerned, l think
the plan works better. Divorces are
in dlsrepute, and married people learn
to accommodate themselves to each
other, and do SO in time.
But o the darkeys! Joys forever!
l think skeleton man would grow
fat if he could laugh at them as i did.
Emeline, my mothers maid, after
years of doubtful morality, has mar
ried land really man who is vaguely
known as 'Dan.' Already the ties of
matrimony are displeasing her, and in
one of her daily visits she calmly told
me-
Missy. it am all Miss Mary's fault
my marrying Dan; she Keep a saying
to me to live decent, and 30 got mar
ried; but l tolds Dan whenever I is
tired o. decency. is a-comin' back to
you all, for sure!'
1.-THE implied complimentary to the
family was fully appreciated
"Down in Virginia, Nancy, a house
darkcy, was sent to ask wretched
specimen of poor white trash known
as Peter Cox to come and chop wood.
Peter, in his way is autocratical and
scorns the poorhouse, the place that
my aunt limited was best for him.
Nancy came back in high dudgeon,
saying
"'Oh, Miss Jenny, that man sent
you the assuranciest message you ever
had. He says as how you doan' SEN
to- him when he has nothin' to do, and
now he won't come to you when he
has
so delighted were all the kitchen
people with the new word, that two
more of them came in to ask if missy
had heard this assuranciest message
Their ability in word coinage is mar
vel!ous; Emeline speaks of the con-
trof wagon, meaning patrol, and an
admiring darkey declared that the
bride was just like stick of candy
"The thought of n straight up and
down stick in veil and white satin,
when the bride was a dear little part.
ridge, was too much for the disabilities
!of crowd of girls"